My Life as A Death Guard
Chapter 487: Aboard the Pride of the Emperor
Here, all was celebration and splendor.
At this moment, the Pride of the Emperor overflowed with grand and joyous music. Instruments from every world were being played, while perfumes with calming effects lingered at the tip of every nose.
People moved cheerfully through corridors decorated with golden-purple streamers; even the servitors had makeup painted onto their faces.
Nobles of every kind hurried along the Legion's Triumph Avenue in magnificent attire. Crisp suits broadened shoulders and backs, while soft silk traced the curves of women's figures.
Brilliant light glittered atop pillars of onyx stone. In the distance, through the Phoenix Gate, soaring tenor voices echoed from the Hall of Heliopolis—a hymn praising the deeds of the Legion and its Primarch.
Eidolon wore a face full of smiles. He stood within the Hall of Heliopolis, light streaming through the massive circular dome above, casting hazy pink-violet patterns across his face.
"This truly wasn't easy," he said.
His armor gleamed flawlessly. His handsome face turned toward Lucius beside him. Lucius's armor shone just as brightly—he had recently become the Primarch's newest favorite.
"Indeed," said Lucius, watching the warriors and servitors busily preparing for the Primarch's coronation ceremony. They hurried to transport countless rare treasures presented by nobles.
Lucius lifted his chin proudly.
"To have come this far is all thanks to Father's wise leadership."
After the Primarch of the Emperor's Children had been cast out from the Night Lords' ship, he had not died immediately. Amid the raging turbulence of the Warp, the Primarch had stubbornly survived, enduring until the Emperor's Children found him once more.
As the apothecary trusted by the Primarch, Fabius Bile had watched over Fulgrim during the long period after he was rescued aboard, when the Primarch still remained unconscious, overseeing his treatment.
At first, his sons had worried greatly for him.
To be honest—
The smile at the corner of Lucius's mouth faltered slightly. He lowered his head, looking at his polished boots, so bright they reflected his own face.
During the Primarch's disappearance, and throughout the period of his unconsciousness, life within the Legion had not been easy.
Countless twisted monsters poured from the cracks within the ship. Some warriors became infected by them, transforming into hideous things just like the creatures themselves.
The Emperor's Children fought constantly—fight after fight after fight. Some died. Others became corrupted, raising their blades against former comrades in madness.
In the end, they retreated to the perimeter surrounding Fabius's medicae chambers. Behind them lay the unconscious Primarch. There was nowhere left to retreat.
Some loyal warriors sacrificed themselves, charging out to lure away the tide of daemons, while Lucius and the others remained behind to continue guarding the Primarch—
Lucius blinked, recalling the man he had been then.
Covered in blood, exhausted to the point that his muscles trembled uncontrollably, he had heard a voice calling to him from within his heart.
Calling for him to sleep.
Beyond draped curtains and soft veils came a gentle response.
That voice persuaded him not to follow those warriors who rushed out to draw away the enemy.
For those who chose to remain and continue defending the Primarch, what followed was a long and endless battle.
Sometimes Lucius wondered whether he should have charged out back then—or simply died immediately—to escape the nightmare-like warfare without end.
Everyone had fallen.
Lucius looked toward the corridor, where the tide of monsters stretched beyond sight. His sword-bearing body swayed once—
Swayed once—
Then collapsed straight downward—
Falling into the voice that called to him—
A hand gently caught him.
At the final moment, the Primarch awakened.
And the awakened Primarch bore none of the exhaustion and decadence he had shown before his departure. On the contrary, he was radiant with vigor.
The awakened Fulgrim roused the fallen warriors. Under the Primarch's leadership, they began to push back.
The tide of monsters that had devoured countless warriors became utterly insignificant before the Primarch. Their counterattack advanced rapidly; like a receding tide, the creatures quickly withdrew.
In truth, the Primarch could do far more than that.
Fulgrim restored the infected warriors to normal. They blinked in confusion before once more returning to the Primarch's banner.
Aside from those who had been completely torn apart—and those who had sacrificed themselves in the final charge to lure away the daemon tide—most of the Emperor's Children survived this catastrophe.
Fulgrim inspired the warriors, and under the Primarch's leadership, they successfully found a path out of the Warp, descending upon a star system.
What shocked them was that, even though this universe had already sunk completely into hell, there were still intact star systems that had survived untouched.
They received an enthusiastic welcome from the local nobility. Those worlds were prosperous and peaceful, and all pursued refined art and culture. After the Legion helped the benevolent local nobles eliminate several rebel factions, the planets happily declared their willingness to submit.
The Imperium was dead.
Fulgrim himself had said it.
That giant had long since fallen. Its colossal corpse had been shattered into pieces upon the ground. Now, all the Legion could do was gather those scattered remains and, atop them, bring hope to the people who still survived.
And so, the Emperor's Children began establishing their own power base within the dark side of the Imperium.
Unexpectedly, any Legion force personally approached by the Primarch submitted with remarkable speed. Before long, the Emperor's Children had carved out a sizable domain of influence for themselves.
Afterward, Fulgrim received a message from Horus.
After only a brief period of consideration, the Phoenician decided to accept the invitation and set course for Cadia.
Horus would never tolerate his actions, but Fulgrim knew exactly how to present things in a way that would make Horus permit them.
After all, the Primarch confidently declared that Horus understood the Emperor's Children stood on his side.
His sons were puzzled by this, but from beginning to end, everything the Primarch had done had proven correct. He had saved the Legion once again and guided it back onto the proper path.
Thus, no voice dared question him.
But before meeting Horus, they required a celebration—a coronation, a ceremony to commemorate all their previous glory.
The nobles of the worlds brought under the Emperor's Children gathered around the Legion fleet. The people surrounded them with cheers, celebrating the arrival of their planets' new masters.
The festivities were about to begin.
Within the magnificent hall, there was not a single person who was not moved to joyful tears.
. . .
"…"
Corax stood silently before the screen.
The Primarch, with a small portion of his restraints loosened, stared dumbfounded at the images being transmitted before him.
It was reconnaissance footage gathered in advance by the Masque of the Midnight Sorrow from the Pride of the Emperor.
Surrounded by countless ships covered in spikes and writhing flesh, the once-glorious flagship now resembled a fallen noblewoman—magnificent jewels dripping with rotting fluid.
The image shifted.
Those loyal to Slaanesh walked through corridors decorated with flesh and skin, strange delighted smiles spread across their faces.
. . .
Cadia.
Lorgar, who had been battling the daemon tide, suddenly stopped.
Standing atop a high place, the Primarch slowly turned his closed eyes toward a specific direction.
Far beyond the surging tide of daemons, a ragged figure staggered forward together with the flood, as though he had emerged from the same source as the horde itself.
Why now? Lorgar wondered with closed eyes.
Why you?
He watched the silver-haired Primarch—disheveled, looking as though he might shatter apart at any moment—walking toward the place where Ferrus had died.
<+>
<+>
<+>
<+>
<+>
Tn: I updated the story once every 2 days, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 525: The Erasure[1]
Link: https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/my-life-as-death-164167815[2]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/my-life-as-death-164167815
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/my-life-as-death-164167815